BETTENCOURT CALLS FOR MORE ACTION ON THE HOMEFRONT TO HELP PEABODY VETERANS AND THOSE NOW SERVING COUNTRY (November 2, 2011)

BETTENCOURT CALLS FOR MORE ACTION ON THE HOMEFRONT TO HELP PEABODY VETERANS AND THOSE NOW SERVING COUNTRY (November 2, 2011)

      Peabody, MA... Ted Bettencourt, Peabody City Councilor and candidate for mayor, hosted a Veteran's Homefront Roundtable to discuss how the city can better serve and support the men and women who have and are serving our country in the military "Peabody is fortunate to have cooperation among the various veterans groups. These organizations contribute greatly to events honoring veterans in the city. Our veterans demonstrate teamwork, and their efforts to bring people together and to offer service to our community are appreciated. I hope that we can expand those efforts to be of even greater support to those currently serving in foreign lands and to the families that await their safe return. We owe them an enormous debt. There are many different ways that communities can step up to repay that debt," said Bettencourt.

Peabody Veterans Council is made up of the ten veteran’s organizations in Peabody, and is a model of cooperation for other communities. The veterans group discussed issues facing veterans as they reintegrate after their return from service, as well as changes occurring for retired military. The participating veterans commended the good work of the current veterans’ agent, and spoke about veteran related city events: the St. Vasilios Veterans Celebration, the annual Veterans’ Day observance at PVMHS, the Veteran's Council Lecture and Prize program, and the special relationship between the veterans' organizations and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. They also discussed the history of the Wall of Valor at PVMHS and the noteworthy support of the principal at that time, Joe Patuleia.

Participating in the Roundtable were: Tony Pimenta is an Army Veteran of WWII and a long-time member of the Portuguese American War Veterans Post No. 1. Ray Silva is current President of the Peabody Veterans' Council, and also a member of the Portuguese American War Veterans. Brigadier General (Ret.) Al Mangone, is a U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran. George Grenier, Air Force Vietnam Vet, Ed Grenier, Army Vietnam Vet, and Ed's son Kyle Grenier, Army Iraqi War Veteran, Stephen Pellegrini, Army, Bosnia War Veteran, Debra and Michael Ryan, Past Co-Presidents of the Army National Guard Family Support Group, and Beverley and Lt. Robert Dunne, National Military Family Association Finalists for Navy Family of the Year, and Robert is Past President of the Peabody Fleet Reserve, and Jr. Vice-Commander of the Peabody Veterans Council, Robert recently returned from a year deployment to the War in Iraq.